Will HBO's 'Treme' end after four seasons?

If Treme co-creator David Simon has his way, the HBO drama will play its last trumpet solo after four seasons.

Simon told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that he and fellow producers have plotted out stories through the upcoming third season and through a presumed fourth season – which would be the last. The producers have pitched this end-date plan to HBO.

HBO and Simon have a great relationship, so he’s in a solid position to try and dictate terms, but the show’s ratings have been soft. (The season 2 premiere had about 600,000 viewers, half of the first season premiere.) Many were surprised when Treme got a third season. So even though four seasons is a short run for a successful TV show, in this case it’s actually a pretty bullish suggestion. One suspects HBO will wait to see how Treme performs once it returns in the spring.